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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Short detached notes - as opposed to legato.






2. A line in a contrapuntal work performed by an individual voice or instrument.






3. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






4. The flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played.






5. A short light musical drama.






6. Two notes that differ in name only. The notes occupy the same position.For example: C sharp and D flat.






7. The raising and lowering a pitch of an instrument to produce the correct tone of a note.






8. A dirge - hymn - or musical service for the repose of the dead.






9. A musical composition that has a romantic or dreamy character with nocturnal associations.






10. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.






11. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






12. A whole note is equal to 2 half notes - 4 quarter notes - 8 eighth notes - etc.






13. A contrapuntal song written for at least three voices - usually without accompaniment.






14. The major and minor keys that share the same notes in that key.For example: A minor shares the same note as C major.






15. A glissando or portamento. Also refers to the moving part of a trombone.






16. A 19th century square dance written for 4 couples.






17. Passage for the entire ensemble or orchestra without a soloist.






18. The manner in which tones are produced with regard to pitch.






19. Arranging a piece of music for an orchestra. Also - the study of music.






20. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






21. A 17th century dance written in Quadruple time - always beginning on the third beat of the measure.






22. Three notes played in the same amount of time as one or two beats.






23. Includes all twelve notes of an octave.






24. A musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera.






25. Slow and stately dance music written in triple time.






26. A complex piece of music. Usually the first movement of the piece serving as the exposition - a development - or recapitulation.






27. The performance of either all instruments of an orchestra or voices in a chorus.






28. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






29. The interval between two notes. Two whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






30. A large group of instrumentalists playing together.






31. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






32. A quick - improvisational - spirited piece of music.






33. Lowest female singing voice.






34. A composition based on previous work. A common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music.






35. A mild glissando between two notes for an expressive effect.






36. Time signature with three beats to the measure.






37. Tone color - quality of sound that distinguishes one verse or instrument to another. It is determined by the harmonies of sound.






38. Often used in overtures - a composition that uses passages from other movements of the composition in its entirety.






39. Music written for a lively French dance for two performers written in triple time.






40. A repeating phrase that is played at the end of each verse in the song.






41. Short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition.






42. The seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic.






43. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






44. Piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera.






45. The major and minor keys that share the same notes in that key.For example: A minor shares the same note as C major.






46. A glissando or portamento. Also refers to the moving part of a trombone.






47. When several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches - all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck.






48. The range of an instrumental or a vocal part.






49. The period of music history which dates from the mid 1700's to mid 1800's. The music was spare and emotionally reserved - especially when compared to Romantic and Boroque music.






50. Pertaining to the fugue - the overlapping of the same theme or motif by two or more voices a few beats apart.







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